Affidavit given for 'reading purpose': Additional SP
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 23 2020:
The Editor and the publisher of a local daily have submitted that 'the affidavit' (lying in the defective list) published in their newspaper was received from Additional SP Th Brinda while the police officer submitted before the Court that she gave the affidavit for 'reading purpose' .
The submissions were given during the hearing of a criminal contempt case by a division bench of the High Court of Manipur today.
The criminal contempt case was filed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Manipur Police, Themthing Ngaasangva against Th Brinda and the Editor and publisher of a newspaper for publishing the affidavit.
It may be noted that the affidavit was submitted by Th Brinda in connection with a contempt case against her for 'flouting Court norms' following the bail on medical ground awarded to alleged drug-kingpin Lhukhosei Zou, a former Chairman of the Autonomous District Council, Chandel.
Significantly, the 2018 drug smuggling case against the former ADC Chandel Chairman has triggered a string of criminal contempt cases.
Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) led by then Additional SP Th Brinda had arrested Lhukhosei Zou along with seven others and seized 4.595 kg of heroin, 2,80,200 number of WY (World is Yours) tablets, Rs 57.18 lakh in cash and Rs 95,000 in demonetised notes on June 20, 2018 .
During the hearing today, the division bench comprising Justice Lanusungkum Jamir and Justice Kh Nobin, after hearing the prayers of the respondents for time to file their respective affidavits, gave them three weeks and fixed August 17 for next hearing.
It may be noted that the contempt matter was taken up on July 16 and the Court had directed the Registry of High Court to verify whether the Th Brinda had filed the affidavit in connection with the suo moto contempt case against her.
A report was put up on July 16 wherein, it was indicated that the Registry detected 4 defects in the affidavit.
As per a defect notice, the defects in the affidavit are 'missing signature of the Advocate in the filling index, in the presentation column of page number 1 and also in the affidavit drawn by at page number 17' .
The Court on perusal of the report from the Registry, had issued notice to the respondents, the paper and Th Brinda to appear in the Court today.
Giving its order today, the Court said that the personal appearance of the respondents are exempted for the time being.
Meanwhile, in the contempt case against her, the same Court has ordered Th Brinda to file an additional affidavit within the course of a day and fixed August 10 for further hearing.
It may be noted that the Court is hearing the contempt case filed against her for posting unethical comments on Facebook and flouting Court decorum.
Hours after bail was awarded to Lhukhosei Zou on medical ground, Th Brinda had posted comments criticising Special Judge ND&PS on Facebook on May 23 .
During the hearing today, Senior Advocate N Ibotombi representing Th Brinda had prayed the Court to allow her to file an additional affidavit.
Whereas, Advocate H Kenajit, Counsel representing for a respondent (number 12) submitted that the respondent is presently under home quarantine in Delhi and prayed for some more time to file an affidavit.
Counsel of three other respondents who were impleaded also prayed for some time to file their respective affidavits in connection with the case.
The Court also gave respondents (number 12, 23, 24 and 25) two weeks time to file their respective counter affidavits.
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